Foresight Group LLP announces that it has launched the FP Foresight UK Infrastructure Income Fund. The Fund, which has received FCA regulatory approval, is actively managed and will invest in UK listed renewable energy and infrastructure fund / investment company equities and bonds. 

Deepbridge has launched the new Deepbridge Innovation Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) which will provide seed-stage funding to a diversified portfolio of innovative, technology-focused companies.  

Oxford Capital has led a £3 million funding round for Wrisk, an insurance innovator which lets customers buy and claim on their insurance using a simple smartphone app. The initial funding was followed by a £500k crowdfunding round on the Seedrs platform, which was fully subscribed in just four days.  The investment will fund the business up to and through its market launch in 2018.

EcoMachines Ventures (EMV) announces the launch of the EMV EIS Fund I. The Fund will be focused on investments into EIS-eligible companies disrupting the energy, industrial high-tech, resource efficiency and transport sectors, and is targeting a close of up to £10m by March 2018. EMV is acting as exclusive investment advisor to the Fund, bringing its established expertise and analytical framework within high-growth technology sectors.

Now that equity crowdfunding is firmly established in the funding ecosystem the EIS statistics are getting more interesting to analyse – especially the table on the amounts investors are allocating to the scheme each year. 

HMRC released the National Statistics for EIS, SEIS and SITR for October 2017.  Read our Leader Article for more on the EIS Statistics

Download the full report here 

eepbridge has set out a wish list of EIS/SEIS measures it would like to see the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, announcing during his Budget on the 22^nd November. The wish list comes off the back of the Government’s Patient Capital Review and its consultation on ‘Financing Growth in Innovative Firms’ – both of which provide details on how the Government wants to see innovative firms access the finance they need in order to scale up, and the methods by which investors provide this finance including EIS & SEIS.

Shoosmiths corporate partner Steve Barnett, assisted by solicitor Rebecca Chafer, advised rapidly-growing men’s online grooming business Cornerstone on its £3.5m investment, led by Calculus Capital.

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has responded to HM Treasury’s consultation Financing Growth in Innovative Firms.  In its response, the AIC demonstrates how VCTs are an ideal means to raise much needed capital from retail investors to help smaller businesses grow.  The AIC has also proposed measures to ensure VCT and EIS investment is focussed even more closely on young, innovative businesses.  Key amongst these are a restriction on allowing VCT and EIS money to be used to purchase property.

Mark Brownridge, Director General of the EIS Association, comments on the believed to be imminent publication of the government's Patient Capital Review consultation paper and the measures and initiatives it could contain.

Prosperity Hub Community Interest Company (CIC) has today received an investment of £70,000 from the Resonance Health and Wellbeing Challenge Fund, an impact led investment fund focusing on social enterprises in the South West. 

Puma Investments, the specialist provider of tax efficient investment solutions is delighted to be named as a finalist in three separate categories at the 2017 Growth Investor Awards - Best BPR Investment Manager, Best AIM Investment Manager and Best EIS Investment Manager.